Seven Wonders Part 6: Roman Colosseum, Italy

This post is very special to me, I was fortunate to be able to see the Colosseum of Rome live. this happened when I was studying Italian language and made a study trip.

The Colosseum, (the Flavian Amphitheatre) is one of Rome's most famous buildings and enduring monuments to the culture of the ancient Romans. Construction was initiated by the Emperor Vespasian around 72 AD.

The huge theater was originally built encompassing four floors. The first three had arched entrances, while the fourth floor utilized rectangular doorways. The floors each measured between 10,5-13,9 meters (32-42 feet) in height. The total height of the construction was approximately 48 meters (144 feet). The arena measured 79 x 45 meters (237-135 feet), and consisted of wood and sand. (The word "arena" is derived from the Latin arena, which means "sand.") Nets along the sides protected the audience.

The Colosseum had a total spectator capacity of 45,000-55,000. The Amphitheater is built of travertine outside, and of tufa and brick in the interior. The main pedestals were built of marble blocks weighing 5 metric tons (11,000 pounds.) Initially the huge marble blocks were held together by metal-pins. However, the pins were soon carried off by thieves, and had to be replaced by mortar.

The audience, upon entering, climbed sloping ramps to their seats, according to gender and social class. A wooden floor covered subterranean chambers where the gladiators and animals were kept waiting to perform. There is some debate over the idea that the Colosseum was occasionally flooded for mock naval battles. There were canals in place that could have been used for this purpose but the brick used in construction was not the same type of material that they normally used in water resistant materials.

The Colosseum was the Empire's primary stage for gladiatorial combat for nearly 4 centuries. In a show of Rome's wealth and extravagance, during the opening ceremonies in 80 AD, 100 days of the games were held.

Seven Wonders Part 5: Chichén Itzá, Mexico

Monumental, complex and mysterious; these are some of the characteristics of Chichén Itzá, a huge city with stone pyramids and buildings, marked by an architectonic boast that shows the geniality and the religious spirit of the Mayan Civilization.

Chichén Itza was once a great spiritual destination for the Mayan civilization. It is the birthplace of the Mayan calendar which ends on December 21, 2012. After all of these millennium, why does the calendar end on that date? Some speculate that the end of the Mayan calendar marks the end of the world. Others that it marks the end of the present age and the beginning of a new age.

It´s now a great city that currently extends over an area of 10 square kilometers, where the great vestiges of a culture that reached advancements unthought-of, especially in astronomy, impose themselves.

Personally, the main highlights of the place are “The Pyramid of Kukulkán” (staggering 24 m high. Each side had a total of 91 steps, which if you include the platform at the top makes 365 - one step for every day of the year. On the spring and autumn equinox the sun's shadow in the steps of the pyramid gives the illusion of a snake slithering down the structure. It's an impressive sight which is witnessed by thousands every year ) and “The Cenote” (well-like hole, which leads down to an underwater river. This was the Mayan's main source of water and had certain religious significance attached. The remains of children have been found in the cenote, prompting some to claim that this was a place of human sacrifice).

Seven Wonders Part 4: Machu Picchu, Peru

Wow... I mean, I don´t know how the Incas could build a city like this! They don´t made measurements, calculations with any tools. They did not wrote, but they managed to construct a complex city located at 2,430 meters (7,970 ft) above sea level. It is also interesting to mention that the Incas did not know the wheel!

Built around 1450, Machu Picchu history is only some 100 years old after which it was abandoned as the official site for the Inca rulers in 1572 due to the Spanish Invasion. The unique and most stunning fact of the city was that it was only famous among the locals since its existence and that it was only brought into the focus in the eyes of the other world in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. So, obviously, the site remained hidden even to the Spanish and so was not plundered retaining its cultural and holy significance even today due to its art and sacred rocks.

Despite existing arguments (politics, religious...), no one knows or is sure about why the city was built. So, Machu Picchu still remains mysterious but it’s an outstanding example of man's interaction with his natural environment.

Seven Wonders Part 3: Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

It doesn't matter if you're religious or not, this is a great place to visit in Rio and I hope with all my heart that one day I can visit this wonderful place.

Keeping a watchful eye over the people of Rio de Janeiro, the Statue of Christ the Redeemer (or Cristo Redentor) sits atop Corcovado 2,300 feet (700 meters) above the city. It was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

The largest art deco statue in the world, it is 130 ft (39 m) tall and the arms measure 98 ft (30 m) across. Made of reinforced concrete and sandstone the statue was unveiled in 1931.

On a clear day the views from the base of the statue are fantastic. At night the statue is lit up and seemingly hovers over the city as the mountain it stands on is dark. If it is cloudy the clouds light up and the effect can be quite spectacular and ethereal.

Seven Wonders Part 2: Petra - Jordan

At about 200 km south of Amman, the capital of Jordan, stands the "pink city" of Petra, Unesco World Heritage. The many temples, monasteries, baths and tombs that make up the site are directly cut into the rock.

It's just beautiful! Petra was the principal city of Nebateus at the end of the first century before Christ. It's amazing how Nebateus succeeded in developing efficient hydraulic systems to conserve water and building dams to divert the waters of the winter that once caused flooding in the city.

Seven Wonders Part 1: Great Wall of China

I thought would be good idea for my first posts illustrated to present the Seven Wonders of the World. I sincerely hope that everyone likes. The order of presentation of the wonders is not my preference.

To the northwest and north of Beijing, a huge, serrated wall zigzags it's way to the east and west along the undulating mountains. This is the Great Wall, which is said to be visible from the moon.

Opening post

Hello to everyone here ... My name is "Shady" ... I am here developing and presenting my new blog. It´s related to my two great passions: photography and travel. From now on, I will post many pictures of all over the world, will be sometimes wonderful, sometimes sad, but will no doubt always spectacular.

I wait impatiently for your feedback.

Thank you

;)

Shady